Prosecutor: Blago lied to FBI

CHICAGO, July 26 (UPI) -- Closing arguments were interrupted Monday at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich when his lawyer refused to follow the judge's order.

Following the government's first closing and lawyers arguing on behalf of Blagojevich's brother, Robert, who also is charged in the case, attorney Sam Adam Jr. told U.S. District Judge James Zagel he was willing to be cited for contempt rather than comply with an order barring him from arguing prosecutors failed to call some witnesses because they would have helped Blagojevich's case.

Rod Blagojevich is accused of attempting to leverage his former position as governor for personal gain and campaign contributions. He allegedly tried to sell President Barack Obama's old Senate seat to the highest bidder.

The defense rested its case last week without calling a single witness even though Rod Blagojevich's attorneys had promised the impeached governor would testify.

"I'm willing to go to jail for this, your honor," Adam said. "I cannot follow your order on this."

The Chicago Tribune reported Adam wanted to talk about convicted Democratic fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, political insider Stuart Levine and Rod Blagojevich's general counsel, William Quinlan, none of whom testified.

Zagel instructed Adam to come up with a different closing, telling him, "You cannot argue against the law."

Attorneys for Robert Blagojevich argued their client was a "person of honor" who initially didn't want to get involved in his brother's political career. the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

"He did not come here to bribe. He did not come here to extort. He came here to fundraise," attorney Michael Ettinger said.

"The reason he did it was to repair the fractured relationship between brothers," Ettinger said. "That's the main reason he came up here. It was to help his brother in need."

Federal prosecutors told the jury the ousted Illinois governor told "outright lies" to the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Niewoehner hammered at secret recordings that allegedly show Rod Blagojevich scheming to use the appointment of someone to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Obama for personal gain and campaign contributions.

Niewoehner told the jury Rod Blagojevich telling FBI agents he had erected a "firewall" regarding political fundraising amounted to "outright lies," the Chicago Tribune reported.

"Defendant (Rod) Blagojevich said sometimes information (about fundraising) splashed on him," Niewoehner said. "It splashed on him the same way water would splash on you if you dive in a swimming pool."

Arguments were to resume Tuesday.